Page 125 of Ella Gets the D
At no point did my ex consider that calling his brother to keep tabs on me would mean a far bigger scandal than photos that didn’t show my face. The protection order guarantees that Asher is out of commission. I don’t know how many he has in reserves, but I had to cut off his supplier. There hasn’t been one of me and Julian since last week, but I won’t hold my breath that more aren’t on the way.
“All jokes aside.” Grier blots her face. “It’s good you took action. Men like Charles won’t stop once the divorce is final.”
Whereas Charles Sr. cleared the room to rip his son a new one for calling up his Florida secret, my father-in-law for-now won’t endanger his image just to bury someone he holds in little regard. But judging by the flash in Charles’s eyes, he’d risk it all on a solo mission to make me pay—and now he’ll have to do it without Daddy.
“I want to look into pressing charges once the divorce is final.” Charles would have to shell out thousands and maybe face a small sentence behind bars if a judge found him guilty of blackmail. His privilege would likely buy him a get out of jail free card, but he crossed a line and needs to learn his lesson. “He should’ve put his kids before his ego, and this Tubi-level drama he’s causing is too much.”
Grier wipes her mouth and stands. “It might take some effort to prove in court that he’s the architect behind the photo leaks, outside of the confession he’ll likely deny, but the case is there. Think Camila would talk?”
“Julian threatened her with legal action after he and Morgan kicked her out of their office. Doubtful.”
“Damn.” Grier laughs. “And the brother won’t do us any favors after we sent him back to Florida. Knowing your ex, the trail leads away from him being the anonymous source. He’ll cover his ass.”
A damn mess.
“Are we still good for May 6?” I want this to be over, to not have to wonder if today will be the day Charles turns my life into anotherScandalepisode.
Sunlight from the afternoon sky presses to my face on our walk back to Grier’s office, a sign of brighter days—and the chance to swap out these heels for sneakers on the way. Toe cleavage might look sexy, but it bruised the shit out of my pinkie toes.
“The court has the paperwork, and Charles signed all the documents for an uncontested divorce earlier this month,” shesays. “His tantrum will earn him a case on his hands, but we’re getting that final decree.”
I pull her in for a side hug. “I’ll miss plotting and scheming with you.”
“You’re back early.”
Sophia stirs in my arms but settles when my nose brushes her curls in daffodil barrettes. Rose catches me in the nursery during naptime at least twice a week. New-baby smell still stirs my ovaries into a two-step.
“It was a quick one,” I say at the softest setting. The sleeping angels become screeching gremlins if they don’t get their full rest. I place Sophia back into her crib and crack the door on the way to the hall.
Bright Spot is shining. Admissions are up. Renovations are underway, and Rose couldn’t be happier…which would explain the grin on her face, but not why she’s staring at me like I won the lottery. Did she play my numbers?
“What? Do I have spinach in my teeth?” I do a cautionary swipe.
“Nothing.” Her ponytail sways with a headshake. Warm brown eyes crease at another glance my way. “Happiness looks good on you.”
I nod but don’t miss her eyes flitting back to me. What is she up to?
“I never told you about how I acquired Bright Spot,” she says as we slow to the entrance. She sifts through the basket of mail and hands me an envelope. It’s white and letter-sized—thank God. “I was once married to a banker. He was the breadwinner, and I was a nineteen-year-old in love. I spent ten years caring for the house and upholding my duties as the perfect wife.
“I got pregnant at twenty-nine, and by thirty, I was a single mom.” Her face clouds as she relives a memory. “He came to the hospital after Christopher’s birth to inform me that he’d met someone else and was leaving. Boom. Done. I had no work experience, a newborn, and no home.”
A lump forms in my throat. “How did you do it, get to the other side?” To look at Rose is to see joy and experience a strength forged in fire. She wears happiness over her heart, a testament to the quiet battles she’s fought on her own.
Her chin lifts with a watery smile. “My Aunt Birdie, my bright spot. I moved into the attic here and worked my way up and out when I could afford an apartment. She passed away when I was thirty-nine, and I inherited the center, which I’m now passing on to you, the new executive director.”
Come again?
All I can do is stare as wave after wave of shock and confusion slap into me. A year ago, I was living in my best friend’s house, unsure how my knee-jerk reaction to leave Charles would pan out. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that Haile’s preschool tour would turn into this.
Rose’s laugh is hearty as she watches the emotions play out on my face. “The board approved your promotion last week.” Tears shine in her eyes. “I’ve been waiting for you for so long. It’s time.”
“Y-you’re leaving right now…for good?”
“Heavens, no!” Her lighthearted chuckle tips her cheeks. “I’m taking the rest of the day off. Louise and I are going to look at RVs.” Her smile stretches into a grin. “It’s been our dream to travel across the country. Now we can. Thanks to you.”
She pulls me into her canary sweater and wraps her arms around me with a squeeze. “Thank you, Rose.” The crack in my voice holds back a tsunami of tears.
“This is your next chapter. Life can start again at forty. That was the year I met my Louise, and we’re only getting started twenty years later. You’ve got yourself a good man. Don’t forget your own needs while you take care of everyone else.”
